Local Area Information

Braintree can trace its origins back before the Romans. The town prospered from the 17th century when Flemish immigrants made the town famous for its wool cloth trade. It then became a centre for silk manufacturing when George Courtauld opened a silk mill in the town in the 19th Century.

 

Braintree is an historic market town surrounded by pretty villages but at the same time offers exceptional transport links.

 

The recently upgraded A120 dual carriage way takes you to Stansted Airport and the M11 in just over 15 miles away whilst in the other direction the road joins the A12 giving access to the East Coast as well as Suffolk and Norfolk but it's not just drivers who get the benefit of convenience. Braintree Station takes you into London Liverpool Street in around an hour.

 

The town centre features many independent retailers alongside 'high street' names such as Boots, Burtons, WH Smith, Superdrug, Argos and Tesco as well as a twice weekly market.

 

There's also a plentiful supply of restaurants and bars to take the weight off your feet after all that shopping!

 

Just on the outskirts of town is the Freeport Designer Outlet Village where visitors come from surrounding areas to experience designer shopping at a fraction of the price. There you will also find leading restaurant chains, a multiplex cinema and bowling alley.

 

The gentle rolling countryside around Braintree offers excellent relaxation opportunities and Great Notley Country Park and Discovery Centre is set within 100 acres of beautiful countryside.

 

Amongst the picuresque villages around Braintree is Finchingfield, described as "the most photographed village in England". Nearby Felsted is home to the notable Felsted School which dates back to the 16th century and stands in beautiful grounds in the village.

 

Primary & junior schools in Braintree

 

St Francis Catholic Primary
School

(Ages 5-11)

Gilchrist Way, Braintree,
CM7 2SY

01376 320440

John Bunyan Junior
School

(Ages 7-11)

Lancaster Way, Braintree,
CM7 5UL

01376 320272

John Bunyan Infant School
& Nursery

(Ages 3-8)

Lancaster Way, Braintree,
CM7 5UL

01376 321814

St Michael's Church of England Primary School
(Ages 4-11)

Maple Avenue, Braintree,
CM7 2NS

01376 344866

Great Bradfords Junior
School

(Ages 7-11)

Marlborough Road, Braintree, CM7 9LW

01376 326739

Great Bradfords Infant
School & Nursery

(Ages 3-8)

Marlborough Road, Braintree, CM7 9LW

01376 326891

 

Secondary schools in Braintree

 

Alec Hunter Humanities
College

(Ages 11-16)

Stubbs Lane, Braintree,
CM7 3NR

01376 321813

Notley High School

(Ages 11-19)

Notley Road, Braintree,
CM7 1WY

01376 556300

Tabors Science College

(Ages 11-16)

Panfield Lane, Braintree,
CM7 5XP

01376 323701

 

 

Rail - Braintree to London by train

 

Nearest Train Station

Braintree [BTR]

 

London Terminal

London Liverpool Street [LST]

 

Journey Time

53 minutes direct

1 hr 07 minutes with 8 stops*

1 hr 07 minutes with 10 stops 

Running intervals - around 7.30am

46 minutes until 9.00am then every 1 hour 

Annual season ticket price to London Terminals

taken during December 2011 for standard class adult season ticket

£3,760.00 (£4,520.00 if travelling into zones 1-6)

 

Calling at:

Braintree Freeport [BTP]*

Cressing (Essex) [CES]*

White Notley [WNY]*

Witham [WTM]*

Hatfield Peveral [HAP]*

Chelmsford [CHM]*

Ingatestone [INT]

Shenfield [SNF]

Stratford (London) [SRA]*

London Liverpool Street [LST]* 

Train times taken from:

National Rail Enquiries - trains from Braintree - weekdays at 7.30am 

 

 

 

 

Road - driving distances from Braintree to:

 

Major Roads

A120 1 mile

A12 (junction 22) 7.5 miles

M11 (junction 6) 16.5 miles via the A120

M25 (junction 27) 31 miles via the M11

 

 

A130 6.5 miles via the A131

A414 12.5 miles via the A131 & B1008

A13 25 miles via the A12 & A130

A127 24 miles via the A12 or A130

 

Other Towns & Cities

Central London 50 miles via the A120 & M11

Basildon 5.5 miles via the A176

Braintree 22 miles via the B1007, A12, A130 & A131

Brentwood 6 miles via the A129 & A1023

Chelmsford 8.5 miles via the B1007

 

 

 

Colchester 17 miles via the A120

Ipswich 33 miles via the A120 & A12

Southend 32 miles via the A12, A130 & A127

Sudbury 15 miles via the A131

Witham 7.5 miles via the B1018

 

Airports

Stansted Airport 15 miles via the A120

London City Airport 47 miles via the A120, M11 & A13

Gatwick Airport 75 miles via the A12, M25 & M23

 

 

Heathrow Airport 78 miles via the A120, M11, M25 & M4

Southend Airport 31 miles via the A12, A130 & A127

Luton Airport 60 miles via the A120, M11 ,M25 & M1